Biography
Duncan James is an Australian Artist, Designer and Film Maker based in the hinterland of Byron Bay.
Born in the United Kingdom, he emigrated as a young child with his family to Perth, Western Australia. Growing up in a new country, he soon became fascinated with the vast richness of colour and texture of the native flora and fauna that were so abundant in Western Australia. With a strong interest in painting at the age of 10 he soon developed a passion for all things ‘Creative.’ By the age of 16 he had sold over two hundred pieces and had followed this success by enrolling into the Western Australia School of Art.
James’s love of the Australian bush seemed deeply entrenched as was his desire to be working outside in nature. He decided to study Landscape Design and Construction in the hills of Perth. Loving his new vocation, working outside in nature and enjoying a new skill set, his creativity flourished.
In his early twenties James started his own successful Landscape Design business and constructed many award winning gardens.
After a successful career in Landscape Design, James, aged 34, yearned to spend more time devoted to his Art. He decided to move to the creative hub of Byron Bay, New South Wales at Australia’s most easterly point.
“Living in a rural environment and escaping the daily grind has been very advantageous for my artwork and lifestyle. Utilising skills learnt in landscaping I built numerous outbuildings including a rustic stone and timber art studio. My partner and I collected a menagerie of animals to help share the farm, which in turn provided me with constant inspiration for my artwork” D.James
Some of James beloved birds, his Turkeys became the focus when exhibiting overseas in New York. Dominique Nahas, New York based Art critic and curator summed up his work.
“James depicts {his} turkeys with remarkable force and intensity… creating enduring portraits of his birds, extolling their repelling asymmetrical imperfections, the strangely erotic, carnivalesque dissensions of their features. His depictions of this bird evinces a palpable fascination with textures, surfaces and colours..” D Nahas ( New York Art Critic) 2011
Back in Australia, James created a stir when he painted the then Prime Minister, Julia Gillard as one of his hens. James adds, “ It wasn’t meant to be political, I just noticed the way she walked and it reminded me a lot of one of my hens! I think its healthy to put some humour into your work, at least some of the time! However, my new body of works encompasses a lot more of myself, both abstractly and internally. The style has grown organically and through texture, shape, line and colour, I believe, creates a timeless and original style..”
Duncan James received National media attention when he painted Australian Inventor Ric Richardson for his entry for the Archibald Prize. Jame’s Art has also featured in Australian Festivals and exhibitions.
In 2011, James creative thirst propelled him to the world of filmmaking. Mentored by acclaimed British Director Chester Dent, James applied his creative energy and experience into the Art of Film making.
“I approach all my creative work, whether it’s painting, design or film making in a similar way. For starters, it has to be original, it needs to make people think and it needs to tell a story. I follow my own intuition, my own footsteps, even if that means I stumble occasionally!” DJames 2023
LM 2019
